Dickey's Barbecue Pit — Restaurant in California

The short, just slightly better than terrible. The long, the test of a BBQ joint is their Brisket. If they can do that they can do anything. Unfortunately the Brisket was not very good. A little dry and lacking the tender juicy oily moisture that we love. Almost more than the brisket's shortcomings in this restaurant were everything else. The sides were really bad, coleslaw that was a KFC knock off chopped not shredded and terrible fake dressing. The Mac and cheese was I swear from Kraft! It's clear that these sides are off site fabricated products that wouldn't cut it on an airline. The food is served on a metal baking sheet, cute but it is covered with a wax paper that almost immediately falls apart. So as you cut into your food and scoop it up you invariable consume some paper. Their prior efforts to stop my table from wobbling with long ago worn out waded up napkins was another example of this place "phoning it in". Your order is taken by a nice enough guy from behind a high solid counter that is plastered with advertising placards so it is hard to figure out what is actually on the menu. Although there is a posting high up on the wall that is difficult to discern as the menu because of all of the visual noise and tiny print. Unfortunately you can't see the food that they are selling behind there until after you pay and get a peak behind the counter. I was hungry, I eat the food, did I enjoy it no, would I...

Positives next to the theatre, kids 13 and under eat free on Sundays, staff while not shining examples of customer service were at least decently friendly. Cons the free meal is really only fitting for a child 5 or under. My son wasn't fond of his meat so we packed it to go in two of those tiny sauce containers with space to spare in each cup. I've never seen a sorrier excuse for a taco. They're those smaller than palm sized thick flour tortillas you find at the grocery store. Which might have been ok had they bothered to cook them! The actual makings of the taco is i kid you not half a slice of Kraft American cheese an 1 piece of meat..... so disappointing. For two adults with a drink it was 35 dollars, we got two free kids meals with that but I still don't consider it a good deal. In terms of food cost the kids meals I would have paid maybe a dollar for and the adult meals maybe $5 as a tasting at a food fair or something. Nowhere near worth it. The kids did really love the free ice cream, but the second we left all we heard about was how hungry they were...i can't blame them...

This is the best location in San Diego. The owner is very proud of his business and it shows. He and his staff are very polite and inviting, they remember you and your family. When walking in you are always greeted with a warm hello and a friendly welcome in. The food is out of this world fresh, and so tender. (I think they secretly have a farm in the back🤫) the sauces are homemade and incredible. One of the best features of this location is kids eat free on Sunday’s! Have I mentioned the free soft serve ice cream? No? Ok wow after you devour your food you can walk over and grab a cone, fill it with delicious vanilla soft serve and walk out with a free desert! They also have a rewards app where I personally have earned a $100 meal twice, I used one to cater my super bowl party last year! So if they are open while you are reading this just hop in your car and go experience Dickey’s BBQ for yourself! Oh you’re welcome...